William E. Crowe’s Navy Cross citation

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to

William E. Crowe

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

for service as set forth in the following

CITATION:

for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Division Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (VMF-124), Marine Air Group TWELVE (MAG-12, FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area, from February to September 1942. Boldly intercepting approximately one hundred hostile aircraft engaged in a bomb attack on our landing forces at Vella Lavella, on 15 August, Captain Crowe, with a four-plane division, launched a vigorous and determined counterattack, personally shooting down one Zero and damaging another, thereby aiding materially in the complete rout of the enemy. On 21 August, sighting ninety Japanese aircraft while on patrol duty over Vella Lavella, Captain Crowe and his wingman, undaunted by the tremendous odds, immediately engaged the enemy in fierce combat and succeeded in shooting down one Zero and two dive bombers. Flying escort for our bombers in a strike against Kahill Airfield, Bougainville, he disrupted the plans of the Japanese and lessened the effectiveness of their attack by shooting down one of the approximately thirty Zeros which attempted to intercept the formation. Captain Crowe’s inspiring leadership and great personal valor contributed essentially to the success of his squadron on these and numerous other escort missions and fighter sweeps carried out against overwhelming aerial opposition and his steadfast devotion to duty in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.